October 08, 2009

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And by declaring that, Tom Edsall writes on CJR that journalists should "own" their liberalism. Edsall, who went from The Washington Post to The Huffington Post, isn't taking the mantle from conservative media critics likely to be haranguing the press for so-called bias.

Instead, he writes that the mainstream media would be better off if liberal journalists accepted that they may have political views, even as they pursue objective reporting. By not doing so, Edsall believes some journalists may actually overcompensate and, in the process, either write more favorably about conservatives or resort to "he said, she said" neutrality.

The liberal outlook of reporters and editors is clearly not an easily resolved issue. But perhaps the worst strategy is to avoid recognizing it — taking steps to hide one’s own views, for example, by not voting.

Attempts by journalists to conceal deeply held political convictions can be dangerous. While no agreed-upon mechanism or forum exists, at present, for editors and reporters in the mainstream media to declare personal ideology and partisan leanings, the goal of improved objectivity is more likely to be achieved through individual self-scrutiny and institutional honesty among those in authority. A reporter fully aware of his or her own relevant political and moral beliefs, and conscious of how those views influence what and how he or she reports, is likely to produce better journalism, in which both left and right get their due, without resorting to the bland, forced neutrality found in many publications seeking to conceal the beliefs of their staffs.

UPDATE: Edsall's piece prompted Jamison Foser to ask: "If the press 'ends up either neutered or leaning to the right,' why on earth does it make sense to call it 'liberal?'"

Posted by Michael Calderone 03:35 PM

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Tom Edsall is either naive, or an idiot. Where are the examples of any mainstream media member compensating for his or her own liberal views by writing favorably about a conservative issue? There are none. And as far as admitting their biases, that will never happen. Liberal journalists believe that most of their credibility stems from their ability to cloak their leftist leanings under a thin veil of objectivity. In actuality, they are fooling almost no one.

Tom Edsall is either naive, or an idiot. Where are the examples of any mainstream media member compensating for his or her own liberal views by writing favorably about a conservative issue? There are none. And as far as admitting their biases, that will never happen. Liberal journalists believe that most of their credibility stems from their ability to cloak their leftist leanings under a thin veil of objectivity. In actuality, they are fooling almost no one.

Bullhockey. The majority of the media shops in the beltway are right leaning. The fact that the Republicans can accuse Obama of being a "usurper", Grandma killer, Socialist, an Illegal Immigrant, proponent of death panels, compare him to Hitler and the Nazies and an enemy of humanity and the MSM treats this as "serious" criticism by "serious" Politicians is proof that there is no liberal bias. When Rep Grayson made his comment, I thought Wolf Blitzer and Gloria Borger were going to faint, but get an ELECTED Republican on there to accuse Obama of wanting to kill off half the population and turn the coutry to Islam, and these accusations are taken face value. Eff you.

The mainstream liberal media base back their opinions up with facts. Conservative media back their opinions up with hateful comments, lies, fearmongering theories, fabrication, exaggerations, untruths, smear tactics, and other related material.

The so-called MSM put Obama in the WH and they'll say and write anything they can to keep him there even though he has shown himself to be a charming empty-suit incapable of leading or making a decision. He's done exactly nothing since taking the oath .... except talk, talk, and more talk. And our beloved so-called MSM takes all this talk to be "action and accomplishment" when in reality Obama has farmed out his "agenda" to two of the most despised out-of-touch Liberal politicians in the world, Pelosi and Reid, and now Obama is left trying to sell their agenda .... with the help of the so-called MSM, to an extremely skeptical center-right America.

If "journalists" who are innately biased, can report objectively, then where is that evidenced in the MSM media; I, for one, don't see it, and certainly did not see any objective reporting in the coverage of the ascent of the New Mesiah.

Just another alleged journalist that nobody bothers to read.
Huffington Post? What a joke. The collective heads of the so called mainstream media are so far impacted up Obama's behind, they can see out from behind his eyes.
Nobody believes what they say or write, because they are not credible.

I think the news should keep this great tradition they've had... try your best to get the story right. Try to find the truth as much as possible. By labeling in any way it causes the writer to, by definition, have to view through a lens that shouldn't be there. No one can be completely unaffected by their own experiences but that is why Politico is so good, I have never seen such a bias that I question their motives... ever. Then you have Fox. Sigh. I just don't know what people are thinking when they watch crying guy or sweaty guy. The only thing I can come up with is that they are viewing through a lens that only a mental health professional can work on.

Does it take a rocket scientist to see this?? Why do you think the ratings of all these communist outfits has gone in the tank?? Americans don't want to read all that Anti-American drivel they are pushing on us!!! Most Americans actually love this Country. Many millions have died for our Flag!! We don't need to hear our Leaders continually ripping on us for being so bad. As President you are suppose to promote your country and talk positively about us. This guy has not once talked positively about America in 9 months!! He goes to Copenhagen and begins to proclaim what a wonderful country America is and the IOC shakes their heads??? What is this??- We haven't been hearing any of this for the last 9 months?? What is this now-this can't be true??? Thus, we didn't get the Olympics. You can't have it both ways Barack. You can't constantly rip us around the world and then when you want something, turn around and praise us-it doesn't work. Think about this in the future.

Is this some sort of news flash? I think the public has know this for a number of years. The media is just realizing that their readers see them for what they are - liberal, left wingers cheering for the empty suit, Nobel prize winning president.